Paying out, playing dumb

Tamara Dietrick

Give it to us straight: Did Newport News spend $2.6 million to settle two child rape cases?

City leaders say they can't divulge any such thing because a judge sealed the records -- at the city's request. Lawyers for the two plaintiffs requested the same, to "protect the interests of the juveniles" involved.

By all means, protect them. All we know is that they're two boys sexually assaulted at the city's Juvenile Detention Center in 2003.

The public doesn't need/want/deserve to know more than that. Nor does this newspaper.

But the amount of public money used to settle those suits is public information. The dollar figure doesn't harm those kids one bit. We need/want/deserve to know at least that.

And, council members, spare me the ignorance act. "The lawyers did it" or "Gee, I don't remember" is insulting to yourselves and to the people you serve -- and whose millions you're spending with zero accountability.